WP/38723/2026 of Ammalu Kovvada Vs The Director of Medical Education and Research on 30 September 2026

Order

This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the 2nd respondent to receive, verify, and consider the petitioner's certificates dated 10.09.2026 and 11.09.2026 and to permit the petitioner to participate prospectively under the Telugu Linguistic Minority category in the remaining Tamil Nadu MBBS Management Quota counselling for the academic year 2026-2027.

2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner completed her Higher Secondary education, appeared for the NEET exam, and secured 235 out of 720 marks. She registered for the Tamil Nadu MBBS/BDS Management Quota for the academic year 2026-2027 under the Management Quota, wherein she declared her religion as Hindu and her mother tongue as Telugu. Even prior to the submission of her online application, she had made efforts from July 2026 to obtain the prescribed Linguistic Minority Certificate from her School. However, the School was initially unable to issue the prescribed certificate. Owing to the aforesaid difficulty, the said certificate was not available to the petitioner at the time of submitting the online application. Hence, the petitioner selected "No" under the linguistic minority column while submitting her application within the prescribed time. Even after the submission of the application, the petitioner continued her efforts to obtain the linguistic minority certificate. Ultimately, the necessary certificates were issued only on 10.09.2026 and 11.09.2026. Immediately thereafter, the petitioner approached the respondent authorities and submitted representations dated 12.09.2026, 13.09.2026, 14.09.2026, and 18.09.2026, requesting them to permit her to participate prospectively under the Telugu Linguistic Minority category in the ensuing rounds of management quota counselling. Since the said representations were not considered, the petitioner has approached this Court.

3. The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submitted that the petitioner had submitted her application only under the general Management Quota and did not claim the linguistic minority category in the prescribed manner, nor did she upload the requisite Telugu Linguistic Minority certificate within the prescribed period. Therefore, any subsequent claim for such category is not permissible under the prospectus. Hence, permitting the petitioner at this stage to alter the category originally declared by her and to submit a fresh Telugu Linguistic Minority Certificate after the expiry of the prescribed period would affect the uniformity of the admission process. Further, it was argued that the petitioner could have obtained the minority certificate either from the School or from the revenue authorities. She was expected to take steps to obtain the certificate at the earliest point in time. Even before filing the online application, she only made efforts to obtain the said certificate through the School, and no effort was taken to obtain it from the revenue authorities. Furthermore, two rounds of counselling have already been completed. In the event the petitioner is permitted to change her category now, it will create a recurring issue, and other students might similarly approach the Court after participating in two rounds of counselling. However, he fairly submitted that if any order is passed by this Court, the same would be implemented.

4. Heard the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Special Government Pleader for the respondents.

5. A perusal of the records reveals that the petitioner has obtained 235 out of 720 marks in the NEET exam and made her online application on 27.07.2026. In the application, the petitioner's mother tongue was mentioned as Telugu. She ordinarily comes under the Telugu Linguistic Minority category. If the petitioner intends to seek admission under the minority clause, she is certainly entitled to the same. It is a constitutional right guaranteed to the petitioner to avail a seat under the minority clause. The petitioner, while uploading the application, did not make a claim under the Telugu Linguistic Minority category and instead opted for the general category. The reason assigned for doing so is that no linguistic certificate in the prescribed format was issued either by the school authorities or the revenue authorities at the time of making the application on 27.07.2026.

6. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that they had made all earnest efforts to get the certificate much prior to the last date of the application, starting from 25.07.2026 itself. However, the certificate in the prescribed format was obtained only on 10.09.2026 and 11.09.2026 after continuous efforts. Now, though two rounds of counselling have already concluded, the petitioner undoubtedly falls under the Telugu Linguistic Minority category.

7. The rights provided to a citizen under the Constitution of India to avail the benefits under the linguistic minority category, cannot be denied merely, for the delay in production of the said certificate. Such being the case, if any requirement is prescribed under the prospectus, candidates are supposed to comply with the same to avail such benefit at the time of uploading the application; or at the time of counselling. However, since the said certificate was not issued by the authorities concerned in time, she was not in a position to submit the application under the linguistic minority category. This cannot be construed as a fault on the part of the petitioner, but rather a delay by the school authorities, who ought to have issued the certificate immediately upon application. As the petitioner's mother tongue is Telugu, this Court is of the considered view that the petitioner's fundamental rights cannot be deprived merely due to the non-production of the certificate in time. At the very worst, the petitioner cannot make a claim based on her merit marks retrospectively from the inception of counselling. She made requests to permit her to participate prospectively under the Telugu Linguistic Minority category in the remaining rounds of Management Quota counselling, if any seats are available and the petitioner is otherwise eligible.

8. Such being the case, this Court is inclined to pass the following order:

1. The respondents are directed to permit the petitioner to participate, prospectively, under the Telugu Linguistic Minority category, in the remaining rounds of the Tamil Nadu MBBS Management Quota counselling for the academic year 2026-2027. This shall be strictly subject to her NEET merit, Management Quota rank as on date, and the availability of seats.

2. The petitioner is directed to produce the Telugu Linguistic Minority certificate at the time of the upcoming rounds of counselling.

3. It is made clear that the petitioner cannot claim any retrospective allotment or seat, as a matter of right for the rounds already concluded.

9. This Writ Petition stands disposed of with the above observations. No costs. 30-09-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No SK Note: Issue order copy on 01.10.2026. To

1. The Director of Medical Education and Research, Directorate of Medical Education and Research, No.162, Periyar E.V.R. High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai 600010.

2. The Secretary Selection Committee, Directorate of Medical Education and Research, No.162, Periyar E.V.R. High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai 600010

KRISHNAN RAMASAMY J. SK WP No. 38723 of 2026 30-09-2026